Written Answers Monday 11 June 2007

Scottish Executive

Bridges

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of funding requirements for bridge maintenance and repairs on the Forth and Tay road bridges.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with both the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) and the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board (TRBJB).

  The prospective discussions that we shall be having with those bodies on removing the tolls will include, amongst other things, matters such as the maintenance and repairs on the bridges.

  Details of the repairs and maintenance programmes have been widely publicised and can be obtained from either FETA or the TRBJB.

Business Rates

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its updated estimate is of the additional revenue which would be raised by extending business rates to all empty industrial and commercial properties.

John Swinney: The Executive does not collect or hold data centrally relating to the types of empty properties in Scotland. However, an estimate of the amount of non-domestic rates not collected in respect of all empty and partially empty properties in Scotland, including industrial and commercial properties, is available from annual returns provided to the Executive by local authorities. The total audited amount reported for 2005-06 is £131 million. The provisional (not yet audited) figure for 2006-07 is £123 million.

  These figures however, are only indicative of the potential additional revenue that could be collected as these properties could be subject to revaluation following occupation, or a range of other forms of relief, depending on the nature of the business.

Child Protection

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the results were of the three-year reform programme for child protection services.

Fiona Hyslop: The findings of the independent evaluation – A Process Review of the Child Protection Reform Programme  - can be found on the Scottish Executive website’s publications pages at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/03/13100337/0 .

  The Education Committee of the last session (13 December 2006) also considered a detailed update from the Scottish Executive on the various projects undertaken as part of the three-year reform programme and a link to that paper on the Scottish Parliament’s website is provided here at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/education/papers-06/edp06-27.pdf.

  The findings of the independent Process Review evaluation are:

  Documentary analysis evidenced the extent of discussion with, and involvement of, a range of stakeholders throughout the CPRP (Child Protection Reform Programme).

  Children and young people in Dundee have developed a resource pack about the Children’s Charter – "Charterman" - as part of an Enterprise in Education challenge. The pack explains the key messages of the charter in a manner accessible to children and young people.

  Before child protection training, social workers in adult settings expressed anxiety about making a mistake, described feelings of being overwhelmed, and indicated the need for clarity about their roles and responsibilities.

  Media coverage tended to focus on adult offending and substance misuse and few explicit links were drawn between systems to tackle these and the CPRP; however, concepts relating to the CPRP were covered in the context of local authority and health board initiatives.

  There was an overwhelming consensus that the CPRP has been successful in meeting its aims and objectives and has lead to improvements at a national and local level.

  Respondents noted increased public and professional awareness of children’s needs for care and protection.

  All sub-projects of the CPRP were influential; the Framework for Standards’ and guidance for CPCs tended to be singled out as particularly important.

  Much of the success so far was attributed to the extensive work and commitment put in by staff, at all levels in all key agencies, in taking the national policy agenda forward locally.

  The majority of respondents both agreed that practice to safeguard the welfare of children had improved (71%), and that policy had improved (75%); nearly two-thirds (62%) agreed that practice changes were for the better for children; two-thirds agreed (66%) that policy changes were.

  Of the 166 who had heard of the CPRP two-thirds (65%) agreed with the aims and 80% felt that it built on good practice.

  Whether professionals had specifically heard of the CPRP or not, they were clearly aware of changes in policy and practice and were largely in support of the direction of change.

  In both the survey and focus groups professionals described significant improvements in the amount of awareness, information sharing and joint working; they considered that there had been a rise in a sense of shared responsibility for identifying the unmet needs of children and helping to meet those needs.

  In the survey and in focus groups there was a strongly expressed view that increased awareness had lead to an increased workload for all professions and that this had impacted on resources.

Climate Change

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its top objectives are for climate change.

Stewart Stevenson: The First Minister set out the Executive’s climate change objectives in his statement to Parliament on 23 May. A copy of the statement is available on the Scottish Parliament website at www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports .

  This confirms that the Parliament will be asked to support a Climate Change Bill setting out ambitious targets to reduce emissions in Scotland.

Credit Unions

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is provided for credit unions.

Stewart Maxwell: We are providing £500,000 in 2007-08 to support credit unions. As social enterprises, credit unions are included in the strategic aims of Better Business - a strategy and action plan for social enterprise in Scotland published in March 2007 which aims to grow and develop social enterprises in Scotland to deliver services and improve communities.

Credit Unions

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what new initiatives it will develop to support credit unions.

Stewart Maxwell: We will consider the need for further activity to support credit unions in the 2007 review of the Financial Inclusion Action Plan. As social enterprises, credit unions are included in the strategic aims of Better Business - a strategy and action plan for social enterprise in Scotland published in March 2007 which aims to grow and develop social enterprises in Scotland to deliver services and improve communities.

Disclosure Scotland

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the operation of disclosure certificates.

Kenny MacAskill: Work is in hand to implement the provisions of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 which will replace enhanced disclosure certificates for people wanting to work with children and protected adults. Enhanced disclosures for other purposes, standard and basic disclosure certificates will continue to be provided by Disclosure Scotland.

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to extend the role of pharmacists in more pro-active health care as well as the dispensing of methadone in the treatment of people with a drug addiction.

Shona Robison: The role of pharmacists in public health is being developed through the new community pharmacy contract. This will comprise of initiatives to improve the health of the public in Scotland including substance misusers.

Economy

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its top objectives are for the economy.

John Swinney: Our overarching priority is faster and more sustainable economic growth. We start from the ambition and belief that we can rank among the top 15 most competitive nations in the world and at least match United Kingdom growth in the lifetime of this Parliament.

  Economic success is the prerequisite of every other government priority, whether that is a world-class education system, a properly funded and respected national health service or getting people into employment as a means of fostering a sense of responsibility and social cohesion.

  We believe it is time for a new economic approach for Scotland, built on a shared desire to increase our nation’s competitiveness. We will set out this New Economic Approach to Parliament and publish it in full in the autumn; this will set the context for our broader economic growth strategy and for the spending review.

Elections

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will repeal the Dumfries and Galloway (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2006 (SSI 2006/434) in order that consultation may take place on a successor order in which the name of Ward 13, Annandale East, is replaced with one which more accurately reflects the geography of the ward.

John Swinney: I am aware of concerns about the name given to Ward 13 in the Dumfries and Galloway (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2006 (SSI/2006/434) and I am considering the most appropriate way in which to respond to this issue. Initial indications are that it would not be appropriate to revoke the order in question and that the ward name could be revised by the making of a varying order under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. I am happy to write to you again once I have considered all of the options.

Enterprise

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its top objectives are for deregulation.

Jim Mather: Our priorities are to create regulatory conditions in Scotland that allow delivery of our five strategic objectives at least cost to industry. I will meet with industry to establish their priorities for action and have already agreed to meet the industry Chair of the Regulatory Review Group.

Financial Inclusion

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how low income borrowers can be provided with a route to financial inclusion.

Stewart Maxwell: We will work with the financial services industry to provide borrowers with access to products and services, including basic bank accounts, and with third sector lenders (credit unions and community development finance institutions) to offer affordable credit.

Flood Prevention

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will increase funding to Moray Council for investment in flood alleviation measures.

Michael Russell: A total of £42 million has been made available to local authorities for the period 2007-08 to support their flood prevention and coast protection programmes. Confirmed flood prevention schemes that meet the Executive’s technical, environmental and economic criteria are eligible for grant support at 80% of eligible costs.

  It is for Moray Council to bring forward suitable schemes to take up the resource provision made available by the Executive. Moray Council has received almost £2 million in grant for the completed scheme at Lhanbryde and the council is currently promoting two further schemes at Forres (Burn of Mosset) and Rothes. The council is also in discussion with the Executive about proposals for schemes at Elgin and Forres (Findhorn).

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to extend the designation of bodies under section 5 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 so that, inter alia, housing associations and PPP/PFI contracts wholly financed by public funds are included.

Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Executive intends to keep the scope of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 under review.

Further Education

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to fully implement the findings of the Review of Scotland’s Colleges and when it intends to publish its plans on the matter.

Fiona Hyslop: The findings of the Review of Scotland’s Colleges have yet to be reported to me by the core group of stakeholders responsible for co-ordinating the review. I am grateful for the time and effort which stakeholder organisations have invested in the review, and I await their findings with keen interest. The Executive will respond to them once I and my ministerial colleagues have given them careful consideration.

Health and Safety

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives plans to promote health and safety in the workplace.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives plans a range of work to address the health, wellbeing and safety of the Scottish workforce, including the introduction and promotion of the new Healthy Working Lives award, particularly to small and medium enterprises, and implementation of key actions from the Scottish Action Plan on Health and Safety .

  The Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives has published its current business plan which can be found on its website (www.healthscotland.org.uk\hwl\).

Homelessness

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources have been allocated to local authorities in (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06, (c) 2006-07 and (d) 2007-08 to address homelessness among migrants from the 12 most recent EU accession states.

Stewart Maxwell: Annual funding is allocated to local authorities to address homelessness in each local authority area and allocations have increased in these years. Funding is not linked to specified categories of homeless persons.

Hospitals

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reinstate trauma orthopaedic surgery services at St John’s Hospital.

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to return emergency surgical services, currently provided at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, to St John’s Hospital and what the timeframe will be for any such decision.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is for each health board to plan and deliver services to meet the needs of its resident population. Trauma orthopaedics and general surgery were moved from St John’s Hospital and transferred to Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in 2004 and I understand from NHS Lothian that they have no current plans to review their decision.

  It is not our intention to undertake a general review of service changes that have been made in the NHS. However, I will continue to engage with local communities about the range of services provided locally.

Hospitals

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to assist people from West Lothian with travel arrangements when they require to go to Edinburgh for hospital appointments or to visit family members who are in-patients at Edinburgh hospitals.

Nicola Sturgeon: The patients’ travelling expenses scheme allows for the reimbursement or partial reimbursement, of travel costs for eligible patients, and where medically necessary escorts, attending hospital for treatment. Eligible patients are those who are in receipt of Income Support, Income-based Job-seekers’ Allowance, Pension Credit guarantee credit, are entitled to, or are named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate or who are assessed by the NHS Business Services Authority as eligible on low income grounds.

  Help for visitors to patients in hospital is not available under the travelling expenses scheme. However, recipients of qualifying benefits may be able to obtain some help in the form of a community care grant from the social fund.

Housing

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the registration and inspection regime pursued by Communities Scotland as it affects rural and island housing associations.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Communities Scotland has agreed Performance Standards with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations which set common standards for all social landlords. Working on behalf of Scottish ministers, our aim is to protect the interests of all tenants to make sure they receive a good standard of service, no matter where their landlord operates. But in regulating and inspecting any housing association we are proportionate and take account of the local circumstances and context of each individual organisation.

Justice

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of deploying police to cover the Faslane 365 protests at HM Naval Base Clyde.

Kenny MacAskill: The organisation of police operations, including the allocation of resources to this operation, is a matter for the Chief Constable of Strathclyde.

Justice

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place to allow unhindered access for emergency vehicles during the blockades on the A814 caused by the Faslane 365 protests at HM Naval Base Clyde.

Kenny MacAskill: Maintenance of road access is an operational policing matter and is the responsibility of the relevant Chief Constable.

Justice

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-11927 by Cathy Jamieson on 8 February 2007, how many arrests there have been during the Faslane 365 protests at HM Naval Base Clyde.

Kenny MacAskill: From 1 October 2006 to 3 June 2007, 785 people have been arrested, by either Strathclyde Police or the Ministry of Defence Police, in relation to the Faslane 365 campaign.

Justice

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many arrests of people participating in the Faslane 365 protests at HM Naval Base Clyde have resulted in prosecutions.

Right Hon Elish Angiolini QC: The information requested is not available. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database records details of the charges against each accused in terms of the specific common law or statutory offence that is alleged to have been committed. It is not possible to identify separately within the database offences relating to specific events.

Justice

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that care staff and medical staff are able to reach the population of the Rosneath Peninsula during blockades of HM Naval Base Clyde by the Faslane 365 protesters.

Shona Robison: Maintenance of road access is an operational policing matter and is the responsibility of the relevant Chief Constable. NHS Highland and the Scottish Ambulance Service regularly consult with the police to ensure that disruption to those requiring medical services on the peninsula is kept to a minimum.

Justice

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) maximum, (b) minimum and (c) average penalty was imposed for the offence of drink driving in each police authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.

  Drink Driving Offences with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts, 2005-06

  

Police Force Area
 
Offences Resulting in a Fine
Offences Resulting in a Custodial Sentence


Total
Number2
Max
(£)
Min
(£)
Mean
(£)
Number2
Max
(days)
Min
(days)
Mean
(days)


Central
411
363
1,500
50
331
7
182
60
111


Dumfries and Galloway
273
252
1,500
100
429
6
91
61
81


Fife
584
495
2,000
50
303
13
122
30
94


Grampian
1,006
915
4,000
40
381
23
182
50
102


Lothian and Borders
1,385
1,230
2,000
50
326
34
152
30
87


Northern
752
646
2,400
100
456
29
182
40
111


Strathclyde
3,578
3,075
2,000
50
330
152
365
20
101


Tayside
737
632
1,750
75
342
31
182
60
110


Scotland1
8,727
7,609
4,000
40
349
295
365
20
101



  Notes:

  1. Includes one offence where police force area not known.

  2. Includes small number of offences where amount of penalty not known.

Ministerial Cars

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether emphasis on everyday activities like walking and cycling will reduce the usage of ministerial cars.

John Swinney: Ministers are fully aware of, and recognise, all of the benefits of everyday healthy activities, including walking and cycling and will build them into their daily schedules whenever practical.

Parliamentary Questions

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake a review of all those parliamentary questions where the answers given indicated that information was not held centrally to ensure that the data requested is provided in the interests of openness.

Bruce Crawford: The Executive has no plans for such a review.

Parliamentary Questions

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide answers to parliamentary questions directly for publication in the Official Report , rather than by reference to documents lodged with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) in the interests of openness, as members of the public do not have access to SPICe.

Bruce Crawford: The Executive has no plans to change the current system.

Pharmacists

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will create an opportunity for all pharmacy graduates to access funded pre-registration placements in Scotland.

Shona Robison: The Government is currently in the process of introducing a new NHS Pre-registration Pharmacist Scheme. It is being developed and will be administered by NHS Education for Scotland. The scheme will be introduced fully from the beginning of the 2008-09 academic year and provide funding for a similar number of places as currently required in Scotland – between 160 and 170. The scheme will provide for both hospital and community placements and, unlike at present, all places will be fully funded from Government resources.

  The purpose of the scheme is to ensure that every pre-registration pharmacist funded by NHS Scotland receives the same high-quality training opportunity, support and experience regardless of the practice setting, and are familiar with the practice requirements of the new community pharmacy contract.

Pharmacists

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support existing schools of pharmacy to meet the needs of pharmacists in Scotland.

Shona Robison: Support is provided to the existing Schools for Pharmacy to meet the needs of pharmacists in Scotland through funding by NHS Education for Scotland for the provision of postgraduate courses in pharmacy and extended prescribing rights.

Pharmacists

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that the public is aware of and understands the scope of health care services available from pharmacies, in order to utilise the skills, training and experience of pharmacists for the benefit of patients.

Shona Robison: Community pharmacy contractors are required to produce a practice leaflet giving customer advice on the NHS services offered.

  The new community pharmacy contract is designed to make better use of the professional skills of community pharmacy in providing direct patient care. This consists of four core services, two of which are already in operation: the Minor Ailment Service (MAS) and Public Health Service (PHS). The two remaining elements of the contract will be phased in during 2008: the Acute Medication Service (AMS) and Chronic Medication Service (CMS).

  The two core services in place have been publicised by means of leaflets and posters for display in community pharmacies, GP practices and libraries. Patient information leaflets are planned for the two remaining core services as they are introduced.

Pharmacists

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support a review to investigate the barriers that hinder pharmacists from prescribing.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is not aware of any barriers that hinder pharmacists from prescribing. The government has provided funding for courses to train pharmacists as both supplementary and independent prescribers and also funding for community pharmacy supplementary prescribing clinics.

Planning

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to amend planning law to allow local referenda to determine planning applications and, if so, in what circumstances and for which type of application; what distinguishes one type of planning application from any other for the purpose of a local referendum being invoked; what the status would be of professional advice and recommendations on any application by local authority or Executive officials; how any such changes will affect the rights of applicants to have their applications considered in terms of planning law; whether appeals against a decision by a local referendum could be made and to whom; who would be responsible in law for any such planning decision, and how the geographic boundaries of any area to have such a referendum would be determined.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive has no plans to amend planning law as set out in the question. However, under the programme of planning modernisation following the passage of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006, it is clear that public participation in the planning process is important. Views of the public, where based on relevant planning matters, will be material considerations that should be taken into account when considering proposals. Local communities and their representatives are free to organise referenda to elicit such community views, and we encourage them to do so where they feel that the circumstances merit such an approach.

Prescription Charges

Mr Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will abolish prescription charges for people with chronic health conditions and whether it will list the health conditions affected.

Shona Robison: We remain committed to our manifesto pledge to phase out prescription charges. We are currently considering which health conditions will fall within the definition of "chronic condition" and will consult on that list in due course.

Registers of Scotland

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how an appeal may be made against a decision taken by Registers of Scotland with regard to the registration of a title.

John Swinney: The Land Registration (Scotland) Act 1979 provides for appeals to the Lands Tribunal for Scotland on questions of fact or law arising from anything done or omitted to be done by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland in respect of registration of title in the Land Register of Scotland.

Road Accidents

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what reports it has considered or commissioned on accident rates on the A9 and how these compare with rates on other trunk roads; what plans are in place to upgrade the A9, and what the timescale is for such improvements.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland with its Operating Companies BEAR Scotland and Scotland TranSERV reviewed the accident rates of all sections of the A9. These figures were compared with both the average Scottish trunk road accident rates and those of other individual trunk road routes. A comparison table is provided below.

  A9 Accident Rate Comparison with Scottish Trunk Road Averages

  Figures Quoted are Accidents Per 100 Million Vehicle Kilometres

  

Accident Period
2004-06
A9 Trunk Road
(Dunblane to Scrabster)
Dunblane to Perth
(Keir Roundabout to Inveralmond Roundabout)
Perth to Inverness
(Inveralmond Roundabout to Longman Roundabout)
Inverness to Scrabster
(Longman Roundabout to Scrabster Junction)


Combined Accident Rate
11.08
9.68
8.51
17.65


Dual Carriageway Accident Rate
A9
8.32
9.68
7.25
9.05


Scottish Trunk Road Average
9.4


Single Carriageway Accident Rate
A9
13.85
Not Applicable
9.09
19.99


Scottish Trunk Road Average
20.6



  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-228 on 11 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  Our aim is to deliver currently planned projects during the period to 2012.

Road Accidents

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) fatal and (b) non-fatal accidents there were on each trunk road in 2006.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of fatal, serious and slight accidents on Scotland’s trunk roads in 2006.

  

Route
Fatal
Serious
Slight
Total


A1
1
4
38
43


A6091
0
2
10
12


A68
1
13
30
44


A7
2
6
18
26


A701
2
1
11
14


A702
2
5
28
35


A720
0
7
59
66


A725
0
3
48
51


A726
0
1
19
20


A737
0
7
36
43


A738
0
1
1
2


A75
5
22
34
61


A751
0
0
0
0


A76
4
9
21
34


A77
3
12
55
70


A78
1
12
46
59


A8
1
8
51
60


A80
2
3
14
19


A82
7
31
100
138


A828
1
3
8
12


A83
2
10
37
49


A830
1
1
6
8


A835
0
5
8
13


A84
3
7
14
24


A85
2
15
48
65


A86
1
1
9
11


A87
0
8
28
36


A876
1
0
3
4


A887
0
0
2
2


A889
0
0
0
0


A893
0
0
0
0


A898
0
0
4
4


A9
12
33
124
169


A90
11
32
126
169


A92
2
12
61
75


A95
1
2
19
22


A96
9
7
73
89


A972
0
0
5
5


A977
1
1
0
2


A985
1
10
12
23


A99
1
1
8
10


M73
0
0
9
9


M74
2
14
86
102


M77
0
1
14
15


M8
4
19
210
233


M80
2
2
22
26


A823(M)
0
1
1
2


M876
0
0
5
5


M898
0
0
1
1


M9
0
4
31
35


M90
0
8
24
32



  The figures quoted may differ slightly from those published elsewhere because they were extracted on a different date and the database may have changed between the two dates, e.g. due to late returns or corrections to earlier returns.

  Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to upgrade the A9 north of Perth.

Stewart Stevenson: Completed and proposed improvements to the A9 including the following schemes valued at an estimated £50 million.

  A9 Improvements in Current Programme

  

Scheme
Details


Loch Insh
1.5km of WS2+1* overtaking opportunities


Ralia Lodge to Nuide Farm
2km of WS2 +1* overtaking opportunities


Dalnaspidal (South)
Road Reconstruction


Loch Moy
1.3km of WS2+1* overtaking opportunities


Inveralmond
Signalisation of roundabout and improvements to approaches


Helmsdale Ph. 2
Alignment Improvement


Kincraig
Road Reconstruction


Ballinluig Junction
Grade separated junction.


Bankfoot Junction
1 km of climbing lane 


Crubenmore Dualling
2.7km extension of existing section of dual carriageway. 


Kincraig to Dalrady
3 km of WS2+1* overtaking scheme. 


Kindallachan
Junction Improvement


Slochd
WS2 +1* overtaking Opportunities


Carrbridge
WS2 + 1* overtaking Opportunities



  Note: *Two lanes of traffic with one overtaking lane running in one direction and a third lane in the opposite direction, separated by a one metre red strip.

Roads

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Elgin bypass will be built.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland has worked in close partnership with HITRANS and NESTRANS on a jointly funded multi-modal study to examine the needs of the transport corridor between Aberdeen and Inverness. The evidence gathered by this study on transport matters affecting towns such as Elgin, Nairn and other communities along the A96 will feed into the Strategic Transport Projects Review which is due to report in 2008.

Roads

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has received on the legality, or compliance with European competition rules, of any decision to award a contract for the construction of the M74 northern extension without there having been a competitive bidding process.

Stewart Stevenson: The procurement process complies with European competition rules. The tender has still to be submitted and the award will be subject to the tender demonstrating value for money.

Roads

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place for the construction of a grade-separated junction at the junction of the A90 and the A937 at Laurencekirk.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland has implemented a range of safety measures including the installation of safety cameras, a 50mph speed limit in the vicinity of the junction, advance warning signs, anti-skid surfacing and renewed road markings. These measures will be monitored and further action taken as necessary.

  The Strategic Transport Projects Review which is due to report in summer 2008 will be examining the Dundee to Aberdeen transport corridor to identify future investment priorities which could consider the possibility of a grade separated junction at Laurencekirk.

Roads

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on upgrading each trunk road in each year since 1999.

Stewart Stevenson: Details of expenditure on upgrading each trunk road in each year since 1999 are shown in the following table.

  

Route
2001-02
(£ Million)
2002-03
(£ Million)
2003-04
(£ Million)
2004-05
(£ Million)
2005-06
(£ Million)
2006-07
(£ Million)


A1
1.34
25.83
5.5
7.11
1.26
0.06


A6091
0.1
0.02
 
0.01
 
 


A68
1.4
0.14
0.12
0.19
0.24
 


A7
0.01
0.36
0.05
0.21
0.23
 


A701
0.01
0.02
 
 
 
 


A702
 
0.01
0.3
1.09
1.74
 


A720
0.1
0.19
0.12
0.12
0.02
0.04


A74(M)
0.07
0.03
0.01
0.05
0.08
 


A75
0.06
0.12
 
0.06
0.02
0.01


A76
1.01
0.64
1.21
0.66
0.73
 


A77
1.22
4.24
2.44
0.46
2.32
2.19


A78
0.63
1.03
17.41
10.07
2.13
0.99


A8
0.35
7.71
15.99
 
0.24
0.12


A80
 
2.12
6.07
8.08
9.19
0.43


A82
0.36
0.36
0.41
0.13
0.16
0.02


A828
0.25
0.08
0.09
0.08
0.12
 


A83
 
0.13
0.28
0.13
0.27
 


A830
3.15
6.04
 
 
0.06
0.12


A835
0.02
 
0.02
0.33
0.04
 


A84
 
0.47
0.11
 
0.16
 


A85
0.05
0.06
0.01
0.02
0.08
 


A86
 
0.01
0.57
0.02
0.01
 


A87
 
0.01
0.34
0.12
 
 


A898
0.13
 
 
 
 
 


A9
0.01
0.64
0.68
2.44
2.34
0.52


A90
4.95
11.58
2.35
1.75
3.35
17.54


A92
0.02
0.83
2.26
0.36
0.2
 


A95
0.38
0.69
0.77
0.55
0.58
 


A96
0.67
2.24
4.65
0.15
0.5
0.23


A977
 
0.25
0.01
0.06
 
 


A985
 
0.41
9.05
6.51
 
0.09


M73
 
 
 
 
0.72
 


M74
0.02
 
 
0.19
 
 


M77
1.76
1.53
3.15
3.14
6.08
 


M8
0.85
1.78
0.09
0.66
1.14
 


M9
 
0.03
 
0.52
 
 


M90
 
0.1
0.12
0.17
 
 



  The figures shown are rounded to the nearest £0.01 million and are adjusted to take account of accruals. They are for new construction and minor improvement schemes that have been completed, and do not include maintenance costs. Preparation costs on schemes are only included where construction has been completed. The figures do not include service payments on the completed A74(M) / M6 DBFO (between Abington and the Border) and M77 Design, Build, Finance and Operate schemes.

  Complete figures for 1999-2000 and 2000-01 are not available. The figures for 2006-07 show the estimated outturn but some minor adjustments may still be made until the accounts for the year are closed.

  Expenditure on minor trunk road improvement schemes in 2006-07 on a route basis has not been published yet. However, expenditure on these schemes, split by Trunk Road Unit area, is shown in the following table.

  

Area
Spend
(£ Million)


North East
7.04


North West
0.78


South East
1.53


South West
1.75

Roads

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on road safety improvements on each trunk road in 2006.

Stewart Stevenson: The following tables show (a) how much has been spent on accident remedial schemes on each Trunk Road in financial year 2006-07 and (b) how much has been spent in each Trunk Road Operating Company area on non-route specific safety improvements in financial year 2006-07.

  Road safety improvements are also delivered as an integral element of larger trunk road improvement and maintenance schemes or by national education programmes. It is not possible to quantify the proportion of the costs of these schemes which specifically relate to road safety improvements.

  (a)

  

Route
Spend
(£)


A1
43,431


A68
264,495


A7
69,823


A701
181,371


A702
78,576


A720
60,264


A726
16,521


A737
86,904


A75
69,712


A76
166,361


A77
133,333


A78
48,903


A8
20,432


A80
8,058


A82
79,955


A823(M)
7,048


A828
105,596


A83
52,255


A830
2,088


A835
49,220


A84
10,777


A85
94,467


A87
32,800


A9
161,743


A90
126,362


A92
176,871


A95
13,106


A96
45,677


A972
2,160


A985
1,659


A99
30,820


M74
111,886


M8
251,813


M9
5,253


M80
307,890


M876
15,654



  (b)

  

Trunk Road Unit
Spend
(£)


North East 
477,628


North West 
36,960


South East 
383,338


South West 
181,949



  The figures quoted are provisional and may change due to late invoices.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on pedestrian safety improvements on each trunk road in 2006.

Stewart Stevenson: Pedestrian safety improvements on trunk roads are delivered as an integral element of road safety and road improvement schemes. It is not possible to quantify how much of the overall spend relates to pedestrian safety.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will now award the main roadworks contract for the completion of the M74.

Stewart Stevenson: Subject to the satisfactory completion of the tender process which is underway we expect to award the contract in late summer/early autumn 2007.

Roads

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made, including any related, initial or previous research, of the possible costs of (a) dualling the A9, (b) dualling the A96, (c) dualling the A77, (d) building the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, (e) building the M74 and (f) building a second crossing over the Forth.

Stewart Stevenson: There have been no detailed cost estimates made of dualling the A9, A96, or A77. Any future investment in these routes will emerge from the Strategic Transport Projects Review which is due to report in summer 2008. Details of the current investment programme, including the costs of building the M74 and the Aberdeen Western peripheral route, are available on the Transport Scotland website http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/defaultpage1221cde0.aspx?pageID=20 .

  Assessment of the costs associated with constructing a new Forth crossing is being made as part of the Forth Replacement Crossing Study. Transport Scotland is currently considering the draft reports from the study and will make its recommendation to Cabinet to allow ministers to make a decision in summer 2007.

Roads

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the effect of dualling the A9 would be on funding for trunk road improvements in Dumfries and Galloway.

Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Transport Projects Review will identify a programme of nationally strategic transport interventions for the period 2012 to 2022.

  Any potential improvements to the transport networks in Dumfries and Galloway, including the trunk roads will be considered on their merits within the STPR.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information, if required.

Schools

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the next round of funding to build new schools in Aberdeenshire will be brought forward.

Fiona Hyslop: Existing investment plans will see schools continuing to be built and refurbished across Scotland to the end of this decade. In the case of Aberdeenshire, several communities are already benefiting from recently built schools in line with priorities identified by the council.

  We recognise though that there is yet more to be done to improve the school estate across Scotland. Further financial support for that purpose will need to be considered in the context of the forthcoming spending review.

Scottish Executive Budget

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its top objectives are for the Scottish budget.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s top objectives for its budget will reflect the Government’s purpose which is to focus government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth.

Sexual Offences

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to take forward the recommendations of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s review of the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences in Scotland.

Elish Angiolini QC: Following publication of the Report last June, a COPFS Implementation Team was established to implement the fifty recommendations of the review over the three year programme to which the Law Officers committed.

  Fourteen recommendations have now been implemented in full. Prosecutors have been provided with new guidance on fundamental aspects of revised practice and policy, including instructions about the basis on which prosecutors take decisions about prosecution and bail in such cases. At the heart of the work scheduled over the remaining two years is the development of a programme of specialist training to found the basis of the system of certification for COPFS staff. The training will commence in spring 2008 and all staff investigating serious sexual offence cases within COPFS will be certified according to departmental criteria by June 2009.

Traffic

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the removal of tolls from the Erskine Bridge has had on traffic levels across it.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-308 on 8 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Traffic

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to address any increased traffic levels as a result of scrapping tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges.

Stewart Stevenson: We are discussing the programmes of the regional transport partnerships with them, to see what can be done to reduce traffic levels, and encourage modal shift and car sharing.

Transport

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescales are for ministerial decisions on the approval of regional transport plans.

Stewart Stevenson: There is no statutory deadline for the approval of regional transport strategies. The Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 section 6(1)(b) required the Regional Transport Partnerships to submit their first transport strategies by 31 March 2007. The document Scotland’s Transport Future: Guidance on Regional Transport Strategies states that ministers will aim to approve or return submitted strategies within three months.

Transport

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers ministers have in relation to the amendment, rejection or resubmission of regional transport plans.

Stewart Stevenson: Scotland’s Transport Future: Guidance on Regional Transport Strategies states when considering whether to approve a strategy, Scottish ministers consider, amongst other things, how far the strategy will contribute to the Executive’s own transport objectives. The guidance states that ministers will aim to approve or return submitted strategies within three months.

Transport

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether transport infrastructure projects outlined in regional transport plans must also be reflected in relevant structure plans before they can be approved.

Stewart Stevenson: Scotland’s Transport Future: Guidance on Regional Transport Strategies requires that the 7 Regional Transport Partnerships have due regard to the National Planning Framework and other Scottish Executive planning policy documents.

Transport

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what standard and detail of public consultation is required by regional transport partnerships in preparing plans for submission to ministers.

Stewart Stevenson: The Transport Scotland Act 2005 section 6(1)(a) states that each Regional Transport Partnership, before arriving at its Regional Transport Strategy must consult its constituent councils, each Health Board in its area and other persons as it thinks fit.

  Scotland’s Transport Future: Guidance on Regional Transport Strategies states that meaningful and effective engagement with regional stakeholders, including community planning partners and the wider public should be carried out throughout the Strategy development process.

Voluntary Sector

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with voluntary sector providers of education services about the development of closer working ties with statutory providers.

Fiona Hyslop: Scottish Executive officials have held discussions with a range of voluntary sector providers of education services. Through their meetings they have discussed the links between statutory and voluntary services.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Scottish Commission for Human Rights

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when it will make progress on the appointment of the Scottish Commission for Human Rights.

Mike Pringle: The process of appointing the Chair of the Scottish Commission for Human Rights is not a matter for the SPCB. The nomination to Parliament of a chair will be made by a selection panel of members of the Parliament in line with Rule 3.11 of Standing Orders. Once a chair has been appointed, it will be for the SPCB to recruit the other members of the commission.

  I understand that the Presiding Officer has written to Business Managers on the Parliamentary Bureau seeking their agreement to commence the recruitment of the chair prior to the summer recess.